Peach tree named `Supecheight`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of peach tree characterized by its early ripening fruit which has a round shape, a medium size, and 90-100%% red blush.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the discovery and asexual propagation of a newvariety of hybrid peach tree, Prunus persica cv. Supecheight. The treeproduces a medium-sized and round shaped fruit that has 90-100% redblush, characteristics which make the variety commercially desirable formarket use. The new peach tree variety arose in a controlled cross madeand first selected by Carlos D. Fear and was found to be stable throughsubsequent generations of asexual propagations, made in the vicinity ofWasco, Kern County, Calif. Supecheight was evaluated by Bruce D. Mowreyand David W. Cain and was asexually propagated by Carlos D. Fear. Itspollen parent is Supechthree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,903) and its seedparent is Supechfour (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,503).

The new peach tree variety cv. Supecheight may be distinguished fromother presently available peach cultivars, particularly the Maycrestcultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,064), by the following combination ofcharacteristics: a higher percent of red blush (Supecheight has 90-100%red blush as compared to Maycrest's 70-80%), a more smooth and desirableround shape, a lower frequency of undesirable double fruits, a lowerchilling requirement (Supecheight requires 550 hours below 45° F.compared to Maycrest's 650 hours), blooming that occurs about 10 daysearlier than Maycrest, and ripening that occurs 5 days after theMaycrest variety.

Likewise, the Supecheight variety may be distinguished from the P.F. 5BVariety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,850), by ripening approximately one weekearlier, by having showy flower type (Sh/-) as opposed to the nonshowtype (sh/sh), by having a melting (M/-) as opposed to a nonmelting (m/m)flesh type, and by having a smoother, less striped or mottled redcoloration pattern. The new variety holds these distinguishingcharacteristics through succeeding asexual propagations, as for example,by budding.

The characteristics which distinguish the new variety of peach tree fromits pollen parent, Supechthree, are its higher percent of red blush(Supecheight has 90-100% red blush as compared to Supechthree's 70-80% )and its ripening approximately 5 days after Supechtree. Supecheight alsoproduces larger and more firm fruit than its pollen parent.

The new variety may be distinguished from its seed parent, Superchfour,in that the new variety ripens approximately 10-14 days earlier, and hasa slightly smaller fruit size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

FIG. 1 illustrates, in full color, a typical stem and mature leaves ofthe peach tree and the ripe fruit as viewed from the stem and inprofile. FIG. 1 also illustrates an iolated stone viewed in profile. Thecolors illustrated are as accurate as reasonably possible to attain incolor photographic reproductions of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptlydescriptive. Color names with capital letters designate values basedupon The R.H.S. Colour Chart, published by The Royal HorticulturalSociety, London. The botanical description herein follows the UPOV testguidelines for peach varieties.

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to peach trees of the newvariety grafted onto Nemared root stock and grown in the vicnity ofWasco, Kern County, Calif. during 1994 and is believed to apply toplants grown under similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.Such trees were four years old, and were maintained at height of about10 feet and a crown diameter of about 10 feet by annual prunings.

TREE

When grafted on Nemared root stock the tree is of medium size and vigor,typical of standard commercial peach varieties grown in California.Trees of the variety typically produce about 78 cm.-long lateral shoots(total length) when grown under normal commercial culture. Trees areupright in habit and vase formed in shape. The foliage is of mediumdensity. The trees are hardy, productive, and are regular bearers,producing about 19.2 bins per acre (approximately 16.160 pounds peracre).

The trunk is of medium shape and its surface texture is medium,exhibiting slight exfoliation of the bark . The trunk coloration isR.H.S. 201 D (gray) at a height of 30 cm. above the ground, and R.H.S.200 D (brown) at a height of 60 cm. above the ground. The circumferenceof the trunk is approximately 47.6 cm. at a height of 30 cm. above theground for a four year-old tree. The branches are medium to slender inshape and have a surface texture that is medium, as well. The branchesare smooth, semi-glossy in surface appearance, and are Grey-Brown 199Bin color. The number of lenticels on the trunk and main branches ismedium, approximately 3 per square centimeter. Lenticels average 6.9 mm.long and 1.5 mm. wide.

LEAVES

In general, leaves are of a medium size, having an average length ofabout 16.1 cm. and an average width of about 4.5 cm. Leaves arelanceolate in outline and upfolded in profile. Leave blade tips curvedownwardly at an acute angle. The leaf margin is crenate, and undulationof the margin is slight. The leaf is cuspidate at the apex, V-shaped atthe base, and of medium thickness. The upper surface of the leaf isabout Yellow-Green 147B in color, and of weak glossiness. The upper leafsurface is smooth with a dull appearance; pubescence is absent. Thelower leaf surface is about Yellow-Green 147B in color, and weak inglossiness. Pubescence is absent from the lower surface which has asmooth texture and a dull appearance.

The petiole is medium to short in length and has a medium thickness.There is an average of 3.2 small, globose glands (Yellow-Green 153C incolor) alternately positioned on both the leaf base and the petiole.Stipules fall off.

Wood (leaf) buds are small to medium in size and ovoid in shape. Theirposition, relative to the shoot, is adpressed. Their support is smalland not decurrent. The time of bud burst is medium.

On flowering shoots anthrocyanin coloration is present in mediumintensity. The shoots are of thin to medium thickness, about 0.4 cm.,and internode length is also medium, about 2.8 cm. The density of budsis medium and they are generally isolated on one-year-old shoots. Theratio of wood (leaf) buds to flowering buds is about 9:22.

FLOWERS

Flower buds are hardy, of medium size and length, plump, and adpressed.Flower buds are pubescent and about Greyed-Orange 165A in color.

Flowers first bloom by about Feburary 24 and attain full bloom by aboutMarch 2 in Wasco, Kern County, Calif.--a time of bloom that is early tomedium as compared with similar varieties in the growing area. Bloomshave a medium duration, and a medium to large size (diameter of thefully opened flower is about 4.4 cm.). The shape of the bloom isrosaceous and its petals are free. The fully opened flower is aboutRed-Purple 62D in color.

The peduncle is medium in length and thickness, and pubescence isabsent. The receptacle is of medium depth. Pubescence of the innersurface (at white bud stage) is sparse and pubescence of the outersurface is absent.

Sepals are adpressed to petals, ovate in shape, and have no pubescenceon the inner surface. The outer surface, in contrast, is pubescent. Noneof the flowers have exhibited double sepals.

Petals are medium to large in size, about 1.5 cm. wide, obovate inshape, have short to medium claw length, strong to medium marginwaviness, and a wide base angle. The division of the upper margins isentire, and pubescence is absent on both inner and outer surfaces. Theinner and outer surfaces are about Red-Purple 62D in color. No flowershaving double petals have been observed.

The stigma is positioned slightly above the anthers. The anthers areabout Red-Purple 61B in color just before dehiscence. Pollen is aboutYellow 13A in color. Stamens are perigynously positioned. The number ofpistils is sometimes more than one but the frequency of supplementarypistils is few. The ovary and style are pubescent and both display amedium density of hairs.

FRUIT

The fruit, as described, was firm to ripe at maturity on May 15, 1993.The fruit at firm ripe maturity is medium in size and has an axialdiameter of 5.7 cm. and a transverse diameter in the suture plane of 5.7cm. At right angles to the suture plane, the diameter is about 6.0 cm.,thus indicating a slight unsymmetrical to globose shape. The averagefruit weight is about 90 grams. The position of the maximum diameter istowards the middle of the fruit. The fruit is asymmetric about thesuture line. The fruit ripens very early; commercial harvest typicallybegins about May 16, and the last pick date is about May 24 in a normalyear.

The fruit is for market use and has a good keeping quality and goodshipping quality. The fruit exhibits no unusual susceptibility toinsects and diseases when grown under normal conditions.

The suture extends from the base to the apex and the ventral surface isrounded with equal lips. Depression of the apex is indistinct andpubescence at the apex is medium with an average to high density. Thepistil base is persisting.

The stem cavity is flaring and elongated in the suture plane with thesuture showing on both sides. The depth of the cavity is about 0.7 cm.,its breadth is about 2.5 cm. and there are no markings. The base of thefruit is rounded. The apex is mammiform in shape and the pistil point isapical in shape.

The stem is about 0.7 cm. in length and a medium structure. Adherence tothe stone is weak. The skin is a medium thickness and texture and is nottenacious to the flesh. The skin is without roughness or reticulationand shows no tendency to crack in dry seasons. Ground color of the skinis about Yellow 13B and the over color of the skin is about Red-Purple60B. Down is abundant, medium to short, rolls up when rubbed, and bloomis absent.

The color of the flesh, including at the surface of the pit cavity, isabout Yellow-Orange 14C. Amygdalin in wanting and juice is abundant tomoderate. The flesh has a medium sugar content. The flesh texture ismedium and melting, with tender-fibers. Fruit ripens unevenly (earliestat the apex), has a distinct aroma, and is of good eating quality. Thestone (endocarp) is approximately 0.7 grams and the flavor is delicate.

The stone is semi-free and adheres to flesh along dorsal and ventraledges. Fibers are long and fiber-like threads along the ridges areretained. The stone is medium to small in size, being about 3.4 cm. inlength, 2.6 cm. in breadth, 1.8 cm. thick, and has a stalk end width ofabout 0.7 cm. The angle of the stalk end is obtuse. The form of thestone in profile is oval and cuneate toward the apex. The form inventral view is sub-globular. The stone's base is nearly straight, itsapex is acuminate, and its hilum is oblong in shape. The position of thestone's maximum breadth is towards the pistil end and the sides areslightly unequal. The surface of the stone is irregularly furrowed nearthe base and is pitted throughout. An outgrowing keel is absent. Theridges are jagged towards the base and the pits are angular. The ventraledge of the stone is medium to thick and the dorsal edge has acontinuous broad groove throughout. The color of the stone is aboutGreyed-Yellow 162C. The stone has a slight tendency to split in a dryseason.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new variety of peach tree cv. Supecheight, asillustrated and described herein.